A cracking exhibition of animated characters that includes small screen legends Wallace and Gromit has hit the region this week.

The second in a planned series of shows focusing on puppets and the creative skills behind them, Puppet Masters at Waterside Arts Centre, in Sale, includes the Wensleydale-eating duo, plus stars of popular Aardman productions The Pirates and Timmy Time.

The puppets are among the most recognisable characters in British animation, and they are all made by the skilled team at Aardman Studios - which, in 2016, is celebrating its 40th year.

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The magic of these all-ages shows, says Richard Evans - Waterside’s creative industries programme coordinator - is they give the gallery an opportunity to highlight the creative chain behind the work.

(Image: Andy Lambert)

The centre’s previous Mackinnon and Saunders studio show - which focused on the Altrincham based company behind Mars Attacks and the recent Clangers series - put the audience in front of items they would never normally see up close, too.

“For us, they work on a number of levels,” Richard continues. “There’s the obvious family appeal, but also all the creative work that goes into them.